Alaskan receives national award for work with at-risk youth

Published: February 10, 2011

Frances Macon honored for 40 years of community and foster care efforts

ANCHORAGE - Alaska pioneer Frances Macon, 84, has been awarded the 2011 Lewis Hine Award for Volunteers. The award was presented to Macon and other recipients on Jan. 31, 2011, by the National Child Labor Committee in New York City. Ms. Macon, a licensed foster parent with the Department of Health and Social Services, has dedicated almost 40 years to fostering at-risk youth in Anchorage.

"Frances has devoted her life to working with troubled youth. She chose to provide guidance, love, and rehabilitation to teens that other adults did not want to help," said Barbara Henjum, Director of the Division of Juvenile Justice. "She has given her time and energy to develop programs and provide in-home nurturing for these young men to help them find the right path in life. We're so proud that she's being recognized nationally for her efforts."

In the 1950s, Ms. Macon became the first black member of the Anchorage police department. In the 1960s, she founded a summer camp for poor children. In 1973, she became a licensed foster parent. In the late 1980s, she obtained special training to become a foster parent to male teenage sex offenders in the foster care system.

The Lewis Hine Award is named for the acclaimed NCLC photographer who documented early-20th century exploitation of children. Recipients are selected by a distinguished panel of judges from among hundreds of nominations submitted each year by business, community, and non-profit leaders.